5 stars & 5/10 hearts. Oh my heart, what a sweet story! This book really reminds me of “The Railway Children” and “The Bastable Series,” and the original “Boxcar Children,” a little. It’s just so sweet and lovely! My only complaint is that there is a lot of euphemisms for a kids’ books—even like “my gosh.” Otherwise, it’s just lovely. The four children had a lovely relationship and they were all so realistic and loveable. Father was just amazing, and Cuffy… well, you can’t help loving Cuffy! Oliver just may have been my favourite ;) such a cutie! The storyline was lovely—relaxed but also exciting. I’m so eager to read the next book in this series!

A Favourite Quote: “‘We lead a humdrum life when I think about it. It’s funny how it doesn’t seem humdrum.’
“‘That’s because you have “eyes the better to see with, my dear,” and “ears the better to hear with.” Nobody who has them and uses them, is likely to find life humdrum very often. Even when they have ti use bifocal lenses, like me.’”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “From their tower the Melendys could see the world around them in a circle. Sky with sea gulls in it and nothing else except a patch of those tiny silvery clouds that look like the scales of a carp. In one direction there was a feathering of green trees, and in the other the clear still sea, stirred only in one spot with a dappling of ripples. The waves made a silky lapping against the rocks.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘I think he’s a pretty high-bred dog. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a spaniel.’
“‘One-third spaniel, I should judge by the looks of him,’ said Father. ‘And two-thirds miscellany.’
“‘What kind of dog is a miscellany?’ asked Randy[.]
“‘He means it’s a mutt,’ said Rush bitterly.”